THE BUZZ: Riccardis’ ‘Tiki Torch Nazis’ “re-tweeted” by J.K. Rowling

Petaluma musicians’ latest viral video, “Tiki Torch Nazis,” retweeted by J.K. Rowling: By now, Sandy and Richard Riccardi, of Petaluma, should be getting used to it. It was just three months ago that the duo’s tongue-in-cheek music video “The Boy From Mar-a-Lago” was singled out by Rosie O’Donnell, who proclaimed the Riccardis her new favorite singing-songwriting couple. Now, J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter novels, has joined the list of Riccardi fans, following last weekend’s posting of the brand new song, “Tiki Torch Nazis.” Sung to the tune of “Beauty School Dropout,” from the musical “Grease,” the song takes a sharp-witted poke at the recent White Supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in which self-proclaimed Nazis, KKK members and other White Supremacy groups carried Nazi flags and torches - conspicuously shown to be outdoor Tiki torches. The song had already been viewed and shared millions of times, when Quasim Rashid - who called the tune “the greatest anti-Nazi song ever written” - tweeted a link to its YouTube page, a tweet that was quickly discovered and “retweeted” by Rowling.

Rollo May Award presented to Petaluma’s Myrtle Heery: Educator and therapist Myrtle Heery, founder and director of Petaluma’s International Institute for Humanistic Studies, has been awarded the American Psychological Association’s 2017 Rollo May Award, in recognition of Heery’s contributions to Existential-Humanist Psychotherapy. The award was presented on Aug. 4 at the APA’s annual convention in Washington, D.C. According to a press release published by the International Institute for Humanistic Studies, there have been 14 recipients of the Rollo May award since 1996, and this marks the first time a woman has been honored. Heery is the author of two books, “Unearthing the Moment” and “Awakening to Aging.”

Angela Ryan appointed first-ever Executive Director of Petaluma Museum Association: For the first time in its 39-year existence, the nonprofit organization that runs the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum has hired an Executive Director. Angela Ryan, a Sonoma County native, has had careers in teaching, museum management, and nonprofit fundraising. In the newly created position, she will oversee daily operations of the museum, work toward building membership, and create a fundraising strategy for the organization.

Patient Care and Grief Support Volunteers sought: St. Joseph Health Hospice Services is accepting applications for those interested in taking the Patient Care and Grief Support training this fall. Training takes place Mondays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 18-Nov. 6. Those accepted to the program will learn hospice philosophy, family dynamics, communication and listening techniques, and other skills required of those supporting the hospice clients and their families, and grief clients. Interviews will be held through Aug. 31.

To apply, call 568-1094 or 778-6242.